Many residents of Alibamu (Alabama) don't know that the city of Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, is named for one of my ancestors, the Muscogee chief Tuskalusa. His name means "Black Warrior" in Muskogean.
A thread.

The name was imparted on the town after Hernando De Soto, a Spanish explorer aimed at conquering & exploiting the area's resources, captured Tuskalusa to use him as a guide and as a bargaining chip against the Muscogee for safe passage and provisions.

Escorting De Soto South towards the Muscogee stronghold of Mauvila (the original name of Mobile), Tuskalusa ensured that a trap was set for his captors, as recompense for their mistreatment and abuse of the Muscogees' hospitality.

Upon their arrival, Tuskalusa told De Soto that he would be staying in Mauvila rather than leading them onward away from his land. In the battle that ensued, many Muscogee were killed. However, the Black Warrior was nowhere to be found after the conflict.

Chief Tuskalusa had vanished, hopefully to survive and serve his people another day.

Likely from a leg wound he sustained at Mauvila, De Soto died a few months later. Although records of whether Chief Tuskalusa lived on are uncertain, the land that he protected & the Black Warrior river both remember his name and legend to this day. #NativeHistory #NativeAmerican